Existing home sales slow even more

Nationwide, 22 percent fewer homes sold in December 2007 than in the comparable month in 2006, according to a release by the National Association of Realtors sent out Thursday.

Sales of single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums an co-op apartments dipped 2.2 percent to seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million in December versus 5 million in November. It was also much lower than the 6.27 million units sold in December in 2006,

Along with slower sales volume, the national median price for existing homes was $208,400 in December, down 6 percent from $221,600 a year earlier.